Continuous fabric printing machine



Feb. 2, 1943. J. T. MONTAGUE CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1940 INVENTOR JOHN T. MONTAGUE NEY Feb. 2, 1943. J. TQMONTAGUE v 2,309,914

\ CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTIKG JMACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 m r Far 1 Feb. 2, 1943. J. "r, MGNTAGUE CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE a Sheets-Sheet s Filed July 29, 1940 E w mm M TN N m m WM, MW om: J

Feb. 2, 1943. J. 1-, MQNTAGUE 2,309,914

CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 O O O O O 10 O O O 1 O O O O I O O O O O O O O O 0000 m 0000 OOOOOOOOOOQ T Era-g 1 7a INVENTOR JOHN T MONTAGUE 'ehe 2, 19430 J. T, MONTAGUE CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 2%, i940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JOHN T. MONTAGUE BY Roasts; m4

A RNEY Feb. 2, 1943. J.-T, MONTAGUE 2,309,914

commuous FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 a Sheefs-Sheet e- INVENTOR JOHN- T. MONTAGUE B'Y V Feb. 2, 1943. J. T. MONTAGUE CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR E U MW E MN O o M n A W H Y o B J Feb. 2, 1943. J. T. MONTAGUE 2,309,914

CONTINUOUS FABRIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 7 1M :6 ZI\ 'R 73/ zaa [73? 754 A i K I W J2 d" \NVENTOR JOHN -T. MONTAGUE BY k447i. h ll 40... ATTOR EY Patent ed Feb. 2,. 1943 commousrsnarc PRINTING momma John '1. Montague, Wcstport, Conn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Linen Guild, Inc., New York, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application July 29, 1940, Serial No. 348,13? 8 Claims. 101-115) The present invention relates to stencil 'print- I ing machines and embodies, more specifically, a

stencil printing machine wherein one or more impressions are made upon a fabric that is moved with respect to the point or points at which the impression is made.

In order that desired printing operations may be accomplished upon a fabric or other web that is moved with respect to a relatively stationary printing position, the present invention has been designed and an object thereof is to provide a machine for accomplishing such operation wherein the fabric to be printed is effectively controlled to permit successive printings to register accurately thereon.

A further object of,the invention is to provide a machine of the above character wherein mov-" able means is provided to carry the fabric to'be printed through the machine, the movable means being attached to the fabric during such movement. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein the movable means is synchronized with the movements of the printing element or elements to permit a desired coordination therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character wherein means is provided for applying a plurality of impressions to the web in such fashion as to cause all the feed end of a machine constructed in accord ance with the present invention;

Figure 1B is a view similar to Figure 1A showing the central portion of the machine wherein a second printing unit is provided, the right hand end A being shown as the same section line as the end A in Figure 1A;

Figure 1C is a view similar to Figures 1A and 1B showing the discharge end of the machine, the right hand end section line B being the same as the left hand section line B of Figure 1B:

Figure 2A is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 1A, portions being broken away to facilitate description;

. Figure 2B is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 13 with portions also being broken away;

Figure 2C is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure lc-with parts broken y;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1A and looking in the direction oi. the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the drive mechanism showing one of the relay control devices;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing electrical circuits for accomplishing the various operations of the machine herein described.

Referring to the above drawings, the machine of the present invention is shown as having a plurality of supporting A members In upon opposite sides of the machine. These members are provided with transverse horizontal supports ll, upon which a chamber forming member I2 is carried. Within the member I2 are provided steam pipes l3 for supplying drying heat to the fabric to be referred to presently. A perforated plate I 4 is carried by the member i2 and over the plate I2 a layer of felt I5 is provided to serve as a supporting surface.

The web upon which the printing is to be effected is shown at l6 and is pasted or otherwise secured to a backing cloth i! that :moves over the felt l5 in a manner to be presently described.

The web i6 is advanced through the machine by means of parallel endless drive systems l8 (Figure 2A), each of which is formed of a plurality of links l9 hinged together at 20 for turning about vertical axes. Upon each link (Figure 3) is mounted a gripper 2! consisting of a generally plate-like member 22 fixedto the link l9 and a lever 23 having a claw-like lower end which is pivotally supported on an arcuate arm 24. A spring 25 engages the arm 24 and the upper end of the lever 23 and normally urges the end of'the lever 23 against the member 22 to receive and force the edge of the backing cloth I! against the member 22. The gripping lever 23 can move against the tension of the spring 25 in a direction to tension the cloth H, but resists withdrawal of the cloth H. The lever 23 is moved to receive or release the backing cloth ll by the cams 26. c

The cams 26 are lobe shaped elements mounted on t e frame members In in position to engage the upper ends of the levers 23 and move their lower ends inwardly to permit the cloth l1 to pass between the elements 22 and lever 23 and then release them to cause them to grip the fabric.

The drive systems 8 are driven by a main drive motor 21 through a chain 28 and clutch brake 29. The electromagnetic clutch brake 29 engages and disengages the drive to actuate the systems when desired as hereinafter described. Upon engagement, the clutch supplies .power to a shaft 30 which, by means of suitable gears not shown drives vertical shafts 3| provided with drive cogs (not shown) to engage between lugs |9a of the links IS.

The web l6 and the backing cloth l1 are wound up on a reel 33 preparatory to feeding through the machine and drawn over an idler roller or guide bar 34. The backing cloth is then fed to the grippers of the parallel systems and, from that point on, the movement of the web is accurately controlled, as hereinafter described.

In order that the printing of the web may be accomplished in a desired manner, the machine is provided with a plurality of printing elements 35, 35 and 31. Each element consists of a frame having end walls 38 and 39 and side walls 40, as best shown in Figure 3. ,Top plates 4| and 42 are mounted on the frames, the top plate 4| being provided with depending bearing members 43 and 44 within which a shaft 45 is joumalled. The top plate 42 is provided with a support 46 in which a shaft 41 is journalled. Also-upon the top plate 42 are provided spaced bearings 48 within which a shaft 49 is iournalled.

The shaft 49 is driven by means of a worm 59 and worm gear mounted on the shafts 41 and 49, respectively, and raises and lowers the stencil 52 with respect to the web IS. The stencil 52 may be supported in a stencil box 53, similar to that disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 319,856, filed February 20, 1940, which is mounted in the frame 54 by means of angle irons 55 at opposite ends thereof.

The frame 54 is a generally rectangular member which is pivotally supported for movement toward and from the web Hi by means of the universal joints 55' which connect the inner ends of the shafts 45 to the double spiral drive shafts 55 which are journalled in the opposite ends of the frame 54 and extend transversely of the web I5. The end of the frame 54 opposite to the universal joints 55' is raised and lowered by a pair of chains 51 which are wound over the sprockets 59 fixed to the shaft 49.

The double spiral drive shafts 55 are used to drive a scraper or squeegee 59 back and forth over the stencil 52 to force the coloring material onto the web. l6.

In order to cause the scrapers 59 of the stencilling elements 35, 36 and 31 to move simultaneously, the shafts 45 are provided with sprockets 59 which are engaged by a longitudinal chain 5| which is supported by a sprocket 62 supported at one end and fixed to a drive shaft 53 journalled in the uprights 64 and 65 at the right hand end of the machine, as viewed in Figure 2A. The chain 6| also is supported at the opposite end of the machine by a sprocket 66 mounted on a transverse shaft 61 also journalled in the uprights 68 and 69 at the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Figure 20.

As shown in Figure 1A, the shaft 63 is driven by means of a sprocket 19, a chain 1| and a suitable reduction gearing and magnetic clutch 12 and chain 12' by means of the motor 21.

Therefore, when the motor 21 is operating and the magnetic clutch is engaged, the shafts 45 will be caused to rotate, driving the scraper 53 back and forth along the double spiral shafts 53.

The stencilling frames 54 are raised and lowered by means of a motor 13, which through a chain drive 14 rotates a sprocket 15 supported on a stub shaft 15' iournalled in the upright 59 of the frame.

The sprocket 15 carries a chain 15 which cooperates with the sprockets 11 on the shafts 41 and thus upon rotation will cause either 9. raising or lowering of the stencil frame 54. The right hand end of the chain 16 is supported on a suitable sprocket 18 journalled in the upright 55 at the right hand end of the frame.

The chain drives described above permit adjustment of the stencilling frames of the units 35. 36 and 31 along the web in order to secure proper register of the designs printed on the web.

One form of adjusting means for the elements 35, 36 and 31 consists of suitablegear wheels 19 'at opposite sides of the frame which are supported upon transverse shafts 80 and 3|, journalled in the walls 38 and 39 of the stencil units 35, 35 and 31. The gear wheels 19 mesh with racks 32 on opposite sides of the frame and thus upon rotation of the gear wheels cause'the elements 35, 3B and 31 to move longitudinally of the frame into adjustable position. Movement of the elements 35, 36 and 31 may e effected by means of a crank 83 which is journalled in the side 39 of the elements and is provided with a gear 34 which meshes with a larger gear 65 fixed to the shaft 80.

The devices may be locked in adjusted position by means of a clamp 89 consisting of a split element fixed to the wall 39 and'provided with a screw handle 81 which causes the clamp 33 to firmly grip the shaft 8| and prevent rotation of the gears mounted thereon.

The device in accordance with the present invention is provided with an electrical circuit best shown in Figure 5 which automatically controls operations of all of the elements thereof. It will be understood that in operation, the supporting successively under the various stencilling elements 35, 36 and 31. Movement of the web and the feed chains 9 is controlled by the mechanism disclosed in Figure 4 which includes a chain 88 mounted on suitable sprockets 99, and a sprocket 9| The sprocket 89 is keyed to the transverse shaft 30 and therefore causes the chain to move therewith. The chain 38 is provided with one or more switch operating lugs 83' which cooperate with the main control switch S1 for declutching the shaft 39 from the motor 21.

This switch also through the circuit presently to be described controls the operation of the magnetic clutch of the gear reduction drive 12 to cause the stencil frame to be lowered into engagement with th web upon discontinuation of movement of the web l5.

The scraper 59 is driven by the motor 21 as described above and operation of the motor is controlled by a pair of switches SI and S3 which are mounted on the wall 40 of one of the stencilling elements, for example, element 31, (Figs. 1C and 2C) and are actuated by an arm I65 on the frame 54, as shown in Figure 2C. These switches likewise are under the control of a switch S4 which is actuated by the scraper 59 upon one complete reciprocation thereof. In order to avoid tripping of the switch S4 in both directions of travel of the scraper 59, the tripping cam 90 which cooperates with the switch S4 consists of an L-shaped element pivotally supported on the scraper which is rocked into and out of the path of the arm of the switch S4 by lugs 92 and 93 on the stencilling frame 54.

Referring to Figure 5, the operation of the machine will be described in connection with the electrical circuits by means of which the motor 13 and electromagnetic clutches 29 and 12 are controlled. This circuit is similar to' that disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 319,856. At the left, in Figure'5, is illustrated a power line consisting of wires 94 and 95. A switch 85 may be provided in this line to control motor 21 and wires 91 and 98 may be connected thereto to supply current to the system now to be described. A switch 99 may be provided in either the wires 91 or 98 to control the connected toone back contact I00 of the switch S4. The other back contact IM or this switch is' connected by means of a wire I02 to the coil I03 of a relay R. The other'terminal of the coil I03 is connected by means of a wire I04 to the coil I05 of a relay L, the other terminal of this coil I05 being connected by means of a wire I05 to the back contact I01 of switch S2. The other back contact I08 of switch S2 is connected to the wire 91 by means of a wire I03.

In order that the motor 13 may be reversed, its armature is connected to the movable contacts a and c of a reversing switch It. 8.. by meansof wires H0 and II I, respectively. The field I I2 of motor 13 is connected to switch contacts b and d I by means of Wires H3 and H4, respectively.

Stationary contacts a and a of contact were each connected to the wire 91 by means of wires H5 and IIS, respectively. Stationary contacts b and b of contact 5 are connected to wires 91 and 90, respectively, by means of wires H1 and H8. Stationary contacts 0 and c of contact c are connected to the wire 98 by means of wires H9 and I20, respectively. Stationary contacts d and d of contact (1 are connected to wires 98 and 91 by wires I2I and I22, respectively. The reversing switch R. S. is moved into either left or right hand closed positions by means of coils I23 and I24, respectively. When the coil I23 is energized, the contacts a, b, c, and d are connected to the respective contacts a 12 ,0 and d and the motor operates in one direction. When the coil I24 is energized, the contacts a, b, c, and. d, engage the respective contacts a", b, c, and d It will be seen that the polarity of the armature of motor 13 will be the same in either of the positions of the reversing switch R. S. However, the polarity of the field I I2 will be reversed when the switch R. S. is moved from one closed position to the other.

The coils I23 and I24 are controlled by the relays L. and R. and the switches SI and S3 in the following manner. Current from the wire 98 is supplied through wires I25 and I25 to the front contact I21 of switch SI. The other front contact I28 of the switch SI is connected to the coil I23 by means of a wire I29. The other terminal of coil I23 is connected by means of a wire I30 to a wire I3] that is connected to contact I32 of the relay L. The other contact I33 of the relay L is connected to a wire I34 that is connected to the other supply wire 91.

One terminal of the coil I24 is connected by means of a wire I35 to a wire I35 that is connected to one contact I31 of the relay R. The other contact I38 of relay R is connected to the wire 91 by means of a wire I39. The other wrminal of coil I24 is connected to the front contact I40 of switch 83 by means of a wire I41, while the other front contact I42 of switch S3 is connected by means of a wire I43 to a wire I44 that is connected to the supply wire 95. A wire I45 also connects the supply wire 98 to the wire I04.

Back contact I45 of switch SI is connected to the wire I25 by means of a wire I41, while the other back contact I48 of switch SI is connected to the coil I49 that actuates the electromagnetic clutch 29, by means of a wire I50. The other terminal of coil I49 is connected by means of a wire I5I to the front contact I52 of switch S2. The other front contact I53 of switch S2 is connected to wire I3I by means of a wire I54.

Back contact 155 of switch S3 is connected to wire I44 by means of a wire I55, while the other back contact I51 of switch S3 is connected to coil I58 by means of wire I58. The coil I actuates the electromagnetic clutch 12 in a manner to be presently described. The other terminal of coil I58 is connected by means oi! a wire I50 to the front contact IBI of switch S4, while the other front contact I52 of switch S4 is connected to wire I35 by means of a wire I53.

The operation of the device will now be described. Assuming that the web I 5 is moving toward a printing position,'the lug .88, when the web I5 reaches the printing position, will actuate the switch S2 to open contacts I52 and I53 and close contacts I01 and I08. This will cause current to flow from wire 91 through wire I09, across contacts I01 and I08, through wire I05, through coil I05 and wires m and 14s, to

the supply wire 98. This will energize the coil I05, breaking contacts I32 and I33, and closing contacts I31 and I38. The web I5 having stopped when the switch S2 breaks contacts I52 and I53 will remain in the printing position and by reason of the closing of relay R, current will flow from supply wire 91 through wire I39 and contacts I38 and I31, through wires I35 and I35, to the coil I24, then through wire IOI, across contacts I40 and I02, and through wires I03 and I44 to the supply wire 98. Coil I24 being energized closes the reversing switch R. S. in the righthand position and the motor 13 is operated to lower the stencil into the printing position as shown in Figure 3. When the stencil reaches this position, the arm I on the frame 54 actuates switch S3 to open contacts I40 and I42 and close contacts I55 and I51. This stops the stencil in printing position by opening the circuits of motor 13 inasmuch as the reversing switch R. S. is normally held in the open position illustrated in Figure 5, and current will then flow from supply wire 98 through wires I44 and I55, across contacts I55 and I51, through wire I59 and coil I58, through wire I50 and across contacts I5I and I52 of the switch S4, through the I32, through wires I3I and I30, through coil I23,

wire I 29, across contacts I26 and I21, and through wires I26 and I25 to the supply wire 98. Coil I23 is thus energized to close the reversing switch R. S. in the left-hand position and effect the operation just referred to.

When the stencil is raised the arm I65 actuates switch SI to open the circuit of coil I23 through contacts I21 and I28, thus stopping the stencil in the raised position and close the contacts I46 and. I48. This supplies current from supply wire 98 through wires I25 and I41, across contacts I46 and I48, through wire I50 and coil I49, through wire I5I and across contacts I52 and I53, through wires I54 and I3I, across contacts I32 and I33, and through wire I34 to the supply wire 91. The clutch 29 is thus engaged and the web I6 is moved to the next printing position, causing the complete cycle just described to be repeated.

It is to be observed that switches S2 and S4 and the arm I65 and lug 88' are so formed that. in operation, there is suiiicient .overtravel'oi the arm and lug to permit the switches to return to their normal position, which is the "up position, as illustrated in Figure 5.

When a multi-color design is to be applied to the web I6, the various stencilling units 35, 36 and 31 must 'be so located that the designs are in exact register. This can be accomplished by adjusting the elements along the path of the web I6 by means of the cranks 83 and locking them in position. 'I'heposition' of the units is determined by the spacing of the lug or lugs 88' on the chain 88 and once determined the units can be located by indicia marks applied to the frame of the device.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the machine is completely automatic in operation and assures exact register of the colors and designs in multi-colorprinting operations.

It will also be understood that the device is susceptible to considerable modification without departing from the invention and, therefore, the construction described above should be considered as illustrative and the invention should not be limited save as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Stencil printing mechanism comprising a table upon which material to be printed is adapted to be received, means for moving a web of said material along said table, a carriage mounted on the table in fixed vertical relation thereto, a stencil movable relatively to said carriage and toward and away from said table, a scraper on said carriage for applying color through said stencil, and means responsive to movement of said stencil with respect to the carriage and toward said web to actuate said scraper to apply color to said web through said stencil.

2. Stencil printing mechanism comprising a table upon which material to be printed is adapted to be received, means for moving a web ofsaid material along said table, a, carriage mounted on the table, a stencil movable relatively to said carriage and toward and away from said web to actuate said scraper to apply color to said web through saidstencil.

3. Stencil printing mechanism comprising a table upon which material to be printed is adapted to be received, means for moving a web of said material along said table, a carriage, a stencil movable relatively t9 said carriage and toward and away from said table, a scraper on said carriage for applying color through said stencil, means responsive to movement of said web for periodically interrupting movement of said'web and moving said stencil into engagement with said web, means responsive to movement of said stencil toward said web to actuate said scraper to apply color to said web through said stencil and means responsive to movement of said scraper for moving said stencil away from said web.

4. Stencil printing mechanism comprising a table upon which material to be printed is adapted to be received, means for moving a web of said material along said table, a carriage, a stencil movable relatively to said carriage and toward and away from said table, a scraper on said carriage tor applying color through said stencil, means responsive to movement of said web for periodically interrupting movement of said web and moving said stencil into engagement with said web, means responsive to movement of said stencil toward said web to actuate said scraper to apply color to said web through said stencil, means responsive to movement of said scraper for moving said stencil away from said web and means responsive to movement of said stencil away from said table for causing movement of said web along said table.

5. Stencil printing mechanism comprising a table upon which material to be printed is adapted to be received, meansior advancing a web of said material along said table, racks disposed along the sides of said table, a plurality of carriages, means including gear wheels to support the carriages on said racks for movement along said table, a stencil for each carriage movable relatively to said carriage toward and away from said table, and means for adjusting said carriages along said table so that color applied successively through said stencils will register with other colors on said web.

6. Stencil printing mechanism comprising a table having a surface upon which material to be printed is adapted to be received, racks disposed along the sides of said table, a plurality of carriages, means including gear wheels to support the carriages on said racks for movement along said table, a stencil on each of said carriages movable toward and away from said surface, means for applying color through said stencils, means for advancing a web along said table, means for adjusting the positions of said carriages along said table and means to lock one of the gear wheels of each carriage so as to lock the carriages in adjusted positions so thatcolor applied through said stencils will register with other colors on said web.

7. Stencilling mechanism comprising a table adapted to support material to be printed, means for moving along said table a web adapted to have said material secured thereto, a plurality of carriages disposed along said table, a. stencil on each of said carriages, a motor for simultaneously moving said stencils toward and away from said web, scrapers movable across and for applying color through said stencils, a motor for" alternately moving said web and said scrapers, and a circuit including switches actuated in response to movement of said means for moving said web, said stencil and said scraper for successively interrupting movement of said web, moving said stencil toward said table, stopping said stencil when in contact with said material, moving said scraper to apply color to said material, and moving said stencil away from said table.

8. Stencilling mechanism comprising a table adapted to support material to be printed, means for moving a stencil toward and from said table, a movable scraper for applying color through said stencil, means-for moving a web of said material along said table, a motor for alternately moving said web and said scraper, a reversible motor for moving said stencil, switches actuated in response to movement of said scraper, said stencil and said means for moving said web, and a circuit for said motors and switches for successively moving said web, stopping said web, moving said stencil into engagement with said web, moving said scraper to print on said web, and moving said stencil out of engagement with said web. 1

- JOHN T. MONTAGUE. 

